Stroud day care death: Baby was put to bed face down

A state investigation into the Stroud Township day care where a 3-month-old boy died last month found that the child was placed face-down on a queen-sized mattress for a nap before he was found unresponsive later that evening.

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By CHRISTINA TATU

poconorecord.com

By CHRISTINA TATU

Posted Dec. 13, 2012 at 12:01 AM

By CHRISTINA TATU
Posted Dec. 13, 2012 at 12:01 AM

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SAFE TO SLEEP

The "Safe to Sleep Public Education Campaign" formerly known as the "Back to Sleep" campaign, was a public service effort started in 1994 by The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

"Back to Sleep" was named for its recommendation to place healthy babies on their backs to sleep, the most effective way to reduce the risk of SIDS, or "sudden infant death syndrome."

The most effective way to reduce the risk of SIDS is to place infants on their backs to sleep for all sleep times — naps and at night.

Other safeguards include using a firm sleep surface, covered by a fitted sheet. Firm sleep surfaces can include mattresses in safety approved cribs, bassinets and portable play areas. Do not use a car seat, carrier, swing or similar product as the baby's everyday sleep area.

Never place babies to sleep on soft surfaces such as on a couch or sofa, pillows, quilts, sheepskins or blankets.

Babies should also not sleep in an adult bed, on a couch or chair alone, with the parent or with anyone else.

Keep soft objects, toys and loose bedding out of the baby's sleep area to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death.

A state investigation into the Stroud Township day care where a 3-month-old boy died last month found that the child was placed face-down on a queen-sized mattress for a nap before he was found unresponsive later that evening.

"There were pillows, blankets, clothing and another child sleeping in a car seat also on the bed at the same time. Our representatives also confirmed that there was a cat sleeping on the bed during the victim child's nap," the report says.

Sometime between 6:30 and 6:45 p.m. Nov. 29, the operator of the facility went into the bedroom and found Jasaan Feliciano of East Stroudsburg was not breathing.

Stroud Area Regional Police officers responded and performed CPR on Jasaan until paramedics arrived, but he was pronounced dead a short time later at Pocono Medical Center.

There was milk on the bed and around the infant's neck. He was sleeping on his stomach, the report said.

It is up to local medical officials to determine how Jasaan died. The State Department of Public Welfare, which released the report, does not make that kind of determination, said department spokeswoman Anne Bale.

"Our job is only to look at (the day care owner's) requirements under law via regulation, and she violated those regulations by putting a child on a bed and surrounding a child with blankets," Bale said.

As a result of Jasaan's death and other violations inspectors discovered during a Nov. 30 investigation, the DPW revoked owner Deborah Terry Thompson's certificate of registration to operate the facility at 124 Jaime Court.

"The Department's preliminary decision to revoke your certificate of registration is based on failure to comply with the department's regulations, gross incompetence, negligence, or misconduct in operating the facility," said a letter accompanying the investigation report.

Thompson was required by law to notify other parents with children at the facility within 24 hours of the incident that the boy had died, but failed to do so, the report said.

On Nov. 30, she could not provide inspectors with files for the children enrolled at the facility and did not know the last name of one of the children.

An investigator also noticed a child sleeping on top of the bed next to a car seat. When the investigator directed Thompson to move the child, she placed the child on the floor next to a portable space heater that was being used, according to the report.

The heater was not insulated and did not have protective guards, according to records.

Thompson also was unable to provide verification that a cat at the facility had received its rabies immunizations, the report said.

Thompson has the right to appeal the decision to revoke her license, Bale said. She must do so within 30 days of receiving the report.

A forensic autopsy was conducted on Jasaan, and the forensic pathologist did not find any evidence that the child was smothered, Monroe County Coroner Bob Allen said Wednesday. Allen is now awaiting the results of toxicology tests, which could reveal whether the child died as the result of a virus. Those tests take up to six weeks to complete and won't be available until the end of the month.

"We aren't looking at anything of a suspicious nature at this time," Allen said.

Stroud Area Regional Police are continuing to investigate, said SARP Capt. Brian Kimmins.

It is too early in the investigation to comment on whether there could be charges against the day care owner, Kimmins said.

Once SARP finishes its investigation, it will discuss those findings with the district attorney before making a decision whether to file charges.

The day care, which served between four and six children, is registered to Thompson. She did not immediately return a phone call for comment on Wednesday morning.

According to state law, smaller day cares such as Thompson's are not subject to regular, annual inspections like larger day cares.

Facilities serving between four to six children are referred to as "family child care facilities," and are inspected either at random or based on a tip about a possible violation.

Thompson's day care was opened in 2004 and had inspections completed in 2006 and 2011, according to the DPW. Those inspections were done at random and not prompted by a complaint.

The August 2006 inspection found multiple violations, including not having an emergency evacuation plan or training in place.

Certain children attending the center also lacked signed consent forms authorizing emergency medical care and first aid.

A Nov. 4, 2011, inspection found the day care's operator did not have the necessary 12 hours of training.